Spring 2025

Disaggregating by Sexual Orientation

This section uses results from the #RealCollegeCA survey to examine how Fullerton College students experience food insecurity, housing insecurity, and homelessness, with a focus on sexual orientation disparities.

About the Students

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity in 2025 varies widely across sexual-orientation groups when compared to the campuswide average of 40%.

• Gay and queer students report the highest levels (44%) of food insecurity, slightly above the overall rate.
• Bisexual students (43%) are also above the average, though by a smaller margin.
• Pansexual (37%) and lesbian (35%) students fall just below the overall rate of food insecurity.
• Same-gender loving (25%) and questioning/unsure (24%) students report substantially lower food insecurity than the campuswide figure.

Overall, food insecurity is elevated among gay, queer, and bisexual students, while several other groups fall below the institutional average.

Housing Insecurity

Housing insecurity in 2025 varies widely across sexual-orientation groups when compared to the campuswide average of 54%.

• Gay and same-gender loving students report the highest levels (62%) of housing insecurity, well above the overall rate.
  
• Questioning/unsure (55%), bisexual (54%), and pansexual (53%) students are at or just below the campuswide average.
  
• Lesbian (50%) and queer (47%) students fall below the overall rate of housing insecurity.

Overall, housing insecurity is elevated among gay and same-gender loving students, while several other groups fall near or below the institutional average.

Homelessness

Homelessness in 2025 varies across sexual-orientation groups when compared to the campuswide average of 18%.

• Lesbian students report the highest level (35%) of homelessness, nearly double the overall rate.
  
• Pansexual students (30%) also experience homelessness at a substantially higher level than the campuswide average.
  
• Gay (25%) and same-gender loving (25%) students fall above the overall rate but at more moderate levels.
  
• Queer (21%) and bisexual (20%) students are slightly above the campuswide figure.
  
• Questioning/unsure students (14%) report homelessness at a level below the overall rate.

Overall, homelessness is most elevated among lesbian and pansexual students, with several other groups modestly above the institutional average.

At Least One Insecurity

Rates of students who experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity in 2025 varies across sexual-orientation groups when compared to the campuswide average of 62%.

• Gay and same-gender loving students report the highest levels (75%), well above the overall rate.
  
• Pansexual students (73%) also experience elevated rates of insecurity.
  
• Bisexual students (65%) fall slightly above the campuswide figure.
  
• Lesbian (60%) and queer (60%) students are just below the overall rate.
  
• Questioning/unsure students (59%) fall slightly below the campuswide average.

Overall, basic needs insecurity is most elevated among gay, same-gender loving, and pansexual students, while other groups cluster around or just below the institutional rate.

Overview of Basic Needs Insecurity by Sexual Orientation

It is important to keep in mind that several of these groups have small sample sizes, which means their rates may be more variable and should be interpreted with caution. However, many of these patterns are consistent with patterns from the 2023 survey. Overall, gay, same-gender loving, and pansexual students experience the highest levels of basic needs insecurity, while questioning/unsure students report the lowest, with other groups falling in between depending on the specific measure.

Across all basic needs domains in 2025, clear differences emerge across sexual-orientation groups. Gay and same-gender loving students consistently experience the highest levels of housing insecurity (62%) and at least one basic needs insecurity (75%), with homelessness rates (25%) also above the campuswide averages. Pansexual students show similarly elevated patterns, including high rates of homelessness (30%) and at least one insecurity (73%). Bisexual and queer students generally fall near the institutional averages, with moderate levels of housing, food insecurity, and homelessness. Lesbian students show mixed patterns—lower food insecurity but the highest homelessness rate (35%). Questioning/unsure students consistently report the lowest levels of need across all domains.

Overall, students who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ are more likely to experience basic needs insecurity compared to their counterparts.

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